If you have any questions about further study development or anything else you would like to ask the International Office of CTU please fill them in this document. The International Office has regular meetings on Thursday morning. We will forward them the questions and fill the answered in the document.

Tuesday, 6 May2020

Foreigners whose residence permit on the territory of the Czech Republic expires during the State of Emergency

With the end of the state of emergency, the decree legalizing the residence of all foreigners whosepermission to reside expired during the state of emergency is no longer valid. Foreigners will not be sanctioned in any way for any residence that was “not permitted”, since they were de facto stuck on the territory of the Czech Republic through nothing of their own doing. However, their residence can no longer be further legalized by measures taken by the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of the Interior has therefore taken measures on the basis of which foreigners after the end of the State of Emergency receive 60 days to make arrangements to leave the Czech Republic in accordance with the law on the residence of foreigners. In these cases, the police will not begin administrative expulsion measures or procedures in connection with the duty to leave the country. If contact is made, the police are informing foreigners about the proposed end to the State of Emergency on May 17th, 2020, about the need thereafter to leave the country within 60 days, and about the possibility to turn to the representative office their own country. Since Monday, May 4th 2020, foreigners leaving the country have been provided by the border police with a stamp in their travel document which certifies that she/he fell into the category of foreigners whose further residence after the expiry of her/his residence was deemed to be permitted as a result of the declaration of a State of Emergency. This stamp will contain the date on which the stamp is applied and the text "EXCEPTIONAL SITUATION COVID-19 PANDEMIC". The Ministry of the Interior is informing the European Commission and the member states about this action. For further information, see the Ministry of the Interior press release - https://www.mvcr.cz/clanek/zpravodajstvi-cizinci-kterym-v-dobe-nouzoveho-stavu-skoncila-platnost-pobytu-ziskaji-60-dni-hajeni.aspx.

Friday, 24 April 2020

From Friday 24 April 2020 the restriction of free movement of persons in the Czech Republic is canceled. From now on the restrictions are allowing groups of a maximum of 10 people to meet outside if they keep the distance of at least 2 m. It is still mandatory to have your mouth and nose covered while being in the public space, public transportation, and other places outside your home.

Citizens of the Czech Republic are allowed to travel abroad but they have to follow the 14-day quarantine after their return or prove by certificate at borders upon their return that they are not infected. The certificate must be issued by medical or government authority and must not be older than 4 days.

From Monday 27 April EU citizens can enter the Czech Republic for study or bussiness purposes under the same contitions as Czech citizens (see above).

From Monday 27 April can be open:

some of the stores up to 2500 m2 with its own entrance from the street,

fitness centers and gyms (without use of showers and locker rooms),

libraries,

From Monday 27 April the Universities in the Czech Republic can reopen for students. However, the Academic Senate of CTU has declared the following: We would like to point out that the new change of quarantine rules about university education does NOT apply to CTU. All classes are stopped by our rector's order 07/2020, which is valid indefinitely or until a new order is declared. We monitor the whole situation and we're in touch with our school's management, so you will be notified in case anything changes.

The government plans to prolong the State of Emergency until 25 May 2020. The Parliament is going to vote about that during the next week.

The public transportation inside the Czech Republic will be coming back to the original timetable.

If the situation will not be getting worse, the following can be open from Monday 11 May 2020

all stores regardless of their size and location,

restaurants – only outside seatings or take-aways,

beauty and hair salons and barbers,

museums, galeries, outside areas of castles

A leaflet about Coronavirus with information about what to do and how you can protect yourself.

What to do if you are traveling from infected regions by bus, train or plane.

You can find frequent questions and answers regarding the coronavirus in the Czech Republic on the website of the Ministry of Health.

Please, also check this page of the Ministry of Health for any new and up to date information.

The rector of the CTU has also changed the Academic year schedule – classes period was extended until 5 July, but each faculty may have different dates, so please chck your faculties' websites for updated information or ask via e-mail the the faculty's Study department

From Tuesday it is forbidden to stay in public spaces in groups bigger than 2 people. Exceptions are household members, working duties and funerals. You should keep 2 meters distance from others as much as possible. Also, you shouldn't stay in public spaces longer than absolutely necessary time.

Between 8-10 AM the shopping in shops over 500 square meters is only for elderly people.

All the restrictions apply until 1st April (with the possibility of extension).

Monday, 23 March 2020

These harder times affect us physically but also mentally. Nobody should be ashamed about the ups and downs. We would like to share psychological counseling which is intended for all non-Czech speaking CTU students. They provide help through emotional, personal, relationship, or academic situations.

Please contact the counselor Katarína Širancová (katarina.sirancova@cvut.cz) for more information or making an appointment. The service is confidential and free of charge.

On Friday 20 March 2020 the CTU Rector's order no. 7/2020 was updated by the 2nd amendment.

From Monday 23 March 2020 until Sunday 5 April 2020

all contact classes are suspended, as many classes as possible will continue on-line,

all visits at dormitories are prohibited, including contact with other accommodated persons within the common areas of the same dormitory and also visits to other rooms where the persons are not accommodated.

You can find the translation of the new version of the Rector's Order no. 7 here. We tried to highlight changes that are interesting for you.

Friday, 20 March 2020

The time dedicated for shopping for people older than 65 years has been changed from 10:00–12:00 to 7:00–9:00.

Wednesday, 18 March 2020

From today 12:00 it is mandatory in Prague to cover your mouth and face in the public transportation vehicles, shops, public amenities, hospitals and other medical centers, government buildings and emergency services, schools, posts, pharmacies and public transportation stops.

Also, form tomorrow, Thursday, 19 March, 0:00, every day between 10:00 and 12:00 7:00 and 9:00 (updated on 20 March) it is forbidden to go shopping with the exception for people older than 65 years, i.e. only people older than 65 years can be shopping between 10:00 and 12:00 7:00 and 9:00 (updated on 20 March).

Monday, 16 March 2020

From tomorrow, Tuesday 17th March 0:00, it is forbidden to use public transportation in Prague without your nose and mouth covered.

Sunday, 15 March 2020, 23:00

Effective from Monday, 16 March, 0:00 until Tuesday, 24 March, 6:00 the Government

prohibits a free movement of persons throughout the Czech Republic with the exception of

commuting to work,

necessary traveling to relatives,

traveling in order to buy food, medicine, cosmetics, food for pets and other products necessary for everyday life,

either for yourself or for others (e.g. neighborhood assistance, volunteering),

traveling in order to take care of children,

traveling to hospital or veterinarian,

staying in nature and parks,

going to the bank, to post office or to office to handle official matters,

returning back home,

funerals;

orders all persons residing in the Czech Republic

to limit time spent in public areas to an absolutely necessary minimum and stay in the area of their residence,

to limit contact with other persons to an absolutely necessary minimum.

Public transport still operates without restrictions.In Prague though, you cannot board busses using front doors, and you cannot buy any tickets from the driver. There will also be a bit longer intervals between busses and trams because of fewer people traveling these days. Metro operation is without any change. From tomorrow all contact points of the Prague Public Transport Company (DPP) will be closed. You can buy all the tickets on-line using mobile app Lítačka, and single tickets also from the ticket machines located at all metro stations and at some tram and bus stops.

What does it mean?

The government imposed this measure to limit the personal interactions between different groups of people. To follow the measures, avoid direct contact with other people and if you need to go outside, try to keep a minimum 2-meter distance from other people.

All public transport vehicles should now open all doors at every stop so there is no need to touch the buttons! Try to not touch anything inside the vehicles, preferably sit down when traveling.

To keep good mental health, go for a walk or jog. It is not prohibited as long as you follow the paragraph above (do not group with other people and keep your distance).

When shopping, please try protecting the employees and other customers as much as possible. Follow the basic hygiene rules and use the contactless payment method as much as possible. The shops that stay open now must prevent their customers from grouping in closed space, so you might be asked to stay outside. If you wait in a line, please keep the recommended distance from other people.

Saturday, 14 March 2020, 6:00

Effective immediately until Tuesday, 24 March, 6:00, the Government decided to completely close all restaurants, pubs, bars and similar facilities and also most of the shops.

Only grocery shops, pharmacies, chemists, newsstands, gas stations, computer shops, shops selling glasses and pet shops have an exception to remain open. Also, restaurants that can sell to-go food without the public entering the restaurant, e.g. fast-foods with a drive-through, have the exception to remain open without any time constraints.

There are more types of possible situations (all apply until Monday 16th March 0:00):

you are a student from European Union who doesn't have a citizenship of a high-risk country

if you are outside of the Czech Republic right now and you are not in one of the high-risk countries you are allowed to get back to the Czech Republic before Monday

if you are outside of the Czech Republic right now and you are in one of the high-risk countries you will not be allowed to get back; the CTU recommends you to get home as soon as possible

if you are in the Czech Republic right now, you will be allowed to leave the country, even after Monday

you are a student from the European Union and you are a citizen of one of the high-risk countries

no matter where you are right now (if it is outside of the Czech Republic) you won't be allowed to get back; the CTU recommends you to get home as soon as possible

if you are in the Czech Republic right now, you will be allowed to leave the country, even after Monday

you are a student from outside of the European Union who doesn't have a citizenship of a high-risk country

if you are outside of the Czech Republic right now and you are not in one of the high-risk countries you are allowed to get back to the Czech Republic even after Monday

if you are outside of the Czech Republic right now and you are in one of the high-risk countries you are allowed to get back to the Czech Republic but you will be placed into a mandatory 14-day quarantine

if you are in the Czech Republic right now, you will not be allowed to leave the country after Monday

you are a student from outside of the European Union and you are a citizen of one of the high-risk countries

no matter where you are right now (if it is outside of the Czech Republic) you won't be allowed to get back; the CTU recommends you to get home as soon as possible

if you are in the Czech Republic right now, you will not be allowed to leave the country after Monday

Long term study visa over 90 days is equal to a temporary residence over 90 days

E-mail from Gabriela Aachtenová:

(vice-rector of CTU for bachelor and master studies)

Dear foreign students,

you got during last hours several emails in Czech (from the Dean, from the dormitory, etc.)

All these mails concern Czech students only.

The international students are ADVISED TO STAY in the Czech Republic, for the following reasons:

high concentration of virus in other European countries,

the danger of traveling.

Therefore, it is much safer to stay in Prague.

The university is working on the start of the remote education from the beginning of next week, for all types of classes, where this should be possible.

Wishing you a nice weekend spent in good health

Gabriela Achtenovavice-rector for bachelor and master studies

Friday, 13 March 2020, 12:00

The Government of the Czech Republic tightened the restrictions

From Monday, 16 March, at 00:00 it will be forbidden for any Czech citizen or foreigner with a permanent residence (or a temporary residence for 90+ days) to leave the country

From Monday, 16 March, at 00:00 it will be forbidden for anyone who is not a Czech citizen or a foreigner with a permanent residence (or a temporary residence with 90+ days) to enter the country

If you left the Czech Republic before the State of Emergency came into effect (Thursday 12 March at 14:00) you will be allowed to return back to the Czech Republic (only if you are in one of the exempted groups mentioned above)

If you left the Czech Republic after the State of Emergency came into effect (Thursday 12 March at 14:00), you will not be allowed to return back at all (no exceptions) as long as the Emergency State is in effect

There will be an exception for Erasmus students, they will be allowed to leave the country if they choose to do so

Anyone returning after 12:00 on Friday 13 March from following countries: China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom, Belgium, and Austria will have to spend 14 days in quarantine

From Saturday, 14 March, at 00:00 all train and bus connections crossing the borders of the Czech Republic (in both directions) will be canceled until further notice

Recommendations

The CTU recommends you to stay here and finish the semester, the remote lectures will start on Monday.

Anybody who is at home (in their country) is recommended to stay there.

Thursday, 12 March 2020, from 14:00

The Government of the Czech Republic declared the State of Emergency for the next 30 days

events with more than 30 participants are banned

restaurants have to be closed between 8 PM and 6 AM

most of the public amenities are closed

borders with Germany and Austria are under control (check of temperature) only a few border crossings are open

all foreign citizens from high-risk countries above, who are abroad at this moment, are banned to come to the Czech Republic except those who have Permanent Residence or Short-term residence over 90 days

from Saturday there is canceled all public transportation by buses, trains, and ships from the Czech Republic to all surrounding countries, transportation via air will be limited

issuing of new short term visas, permanent residence permits, and short term residence permits over 90 days was stopped; the approval process of requests already submitted was stopped

after coming back from Italy it is mandatory to contact the doctor immediately and stay 14 days in quarantine

What does it mean?

If you are from one of the high-risk countries stated above, you might not be let to come back after midnight between Friday and Saturday (13th and 14th March). It depends on the type of visa/residence permit you have.

At this moment we are not able to get any valid information about documents you will be required to show at the borders if you want to enter the Czech Republic.

The government is recommending everybody to get back to the Czech Republic before the weekend.

You are allowed to go back to your home country.

English articles about the State of Emergency can be found here and here.

All of the ISC events are canceled, all the language courses are canceled, the ISC Point will be closed.

On 10th or March, the new Order of the Emergency Council of the Czech Republic has been issued, which canceled all the school lessons and all events with capacity over 100 visitors in the whole Czech Republic. Therefore we would like to update our statement from Monday evening.

Due to this ban, the ice hockey match for Wednesday has been closed for spectators. The Culture Evening planned for Thursday will be limited to 99 visitors.

All other ISC events for the next two weeks (until at least 22nd March) are canceled. We are sorry about that. We will keep you informed about further development. Language courses are still going on. We will see how long it takes before the University of Dormitory shuts it down.

As many of you have noticed, the Rector of Czech Technical University issued an order about the cancellation of all classes from Tuesday 10 March until Sunday 22 March.

You can find the whole Rector's Order no. 7/2020 in English here. More information issued by the CTU can be found on this site.

CTU canteens should be open as usual. Sports classes are canceled as well as all other classes.

What to do if you have been to a high-risk region?

It is generally advised by the Ministry of Health not to travel anywhere these days. You can find frequent questions and answers regarding the coronavirus in the Czech Republic on the website of the Ministry of Health.

Please, also check this page of the Ministry of Health for any new and up to date information.

A few days ago, the Czech government issued a regulation which requires anyone returning from anywhere in Italy or traveling through Italy, that they have to upon arrival back to the Czech Republic contact their General Practitioner, or if you don’t have one in CZ yet, contact any General Practitioner. You can find some contacts with English-speaking ones in ISC Survival Guide. The important thing is you are required to inform the doctor remotely, i.e. do not go there, but call them or send an e-mail. The doctor will order you a 14-day home quarantine. If you do not inform any GP about your arrival from Italy, there is a fine of up to 3 million CZK (~ € 118 000 / $ 135 000).

If you are returning back from any other high-risk country (China, Korea, Iran, …) you are advised to stay at home for 14 days and if you feel any symptoms of the Coronavirus inform the General Practitioner as mentioned in the previous paragraph.